Termination and engagement device for stringed jewelry

ABSTRACT

A clasp for stringed jewelry having a first component rotatably engageable to a second component. A rotational engagement of one end of the string or wire with the first component allows it to be rotated to engage with a second component attached to the second end of the string or wire. The rotational engagement of the first component, prevents any twisting of the wire or string during the engagement process and prevents deformation of the necklace from twisting.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/070,941 filed Mar. 25, 2008 and which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The disclosed invention relates to jewelry. More particularly it relates to a device for engagement of two ends of a necklace or string of beads or pearls providing a cleaner more secure engagement to the user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Background of the Invention

Currently, beads, pearls, and other jewelry worn as necklaces or bracelets are strung on strings or thin wires through central apertures in each decorative item. The two ends of each string are conventionally tied off or swaged to form loops for engagement through apertures formed in mating clasps or other such means of engagement of the two ends of the string.

Such a conventional manner of stringing leaves unsightly loops extending from both ends of the string and it is sometimes hard to form the loop on the ends in a manner that is quick and still reasonably attractive to the eye. Further, the clasps engaged can tend to allow a twisting and tightening of the string employed to string the beads or pearls and such, since the clasps are engaged to the string in such a manner that they lack any means to allow for rotation. This can also cause twisting of the jewelry itself.

Accordingly, there is an unmet need for a method and apparatus for the aesthetic termination of the end of stringed jewelry where a string or other flexible elongated member is communicated through apertures of the components of the jewelry such as beads and extending between two terminal ends between which the beads or stones or pearls are strung onto the string.

Such a device should allow for easy engagement by the user of the terminal ends of the string between which the jewelry extends. Such a device should be attractive since jewelry is ornamental and should eliminate any need for loops and swags and knots to hold such loops in place onto the mating portions of the claps. Still further such a device should concurrently provide a termination of both ends of the string of jewelry and provide means for engagement of the those two ends around the neck or limb of a person wearing the jewelry.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide a device and method for terminating the ends of strung jewelry such as beads or pearls.

It is a further object to provide such a device and method that is employable as both a terminating device and engaging connector for both ends.

Yet another object of the invention herein is to eliminate unsightly loops formed with swags and knots and the inordinate amount of time required to form such when making jewelry.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the formulation and method as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed device and method provides a component for engagement to the terminal ends of a string wire or other flexible member which is conventionally employed to string jewelry such as beads or pearls. The device eliminates both the unsightly engagement of the string to the catch or latch, it also affords a unique attachment of at least one distal or terminating end of the string, to the clasp, such that twisting of the jewelry and string, will not cause bunching or binding or other problems from which they currently suffer.

In use, once the beads or pearls or the like, have been sequentially engaged upon the string or wire by passing through a tunnel in the center of each engaged bead or pearl, the device is engaged to the distal or terminating ends of the string.

It is at this point, the device provides both easy engagement for the user, and an aesthetic clasp which accommodates any twisting of the string or wire that would cause binding and uneven hanging in jewelry with conventional clasps which afford no accommodation for twisting of the string or wire.

The device features two engaging halves of a collet or clasp, which provide for easy engagement to a respective end of the string of beads, and easy engagement to each other, in a strong threaded engagement, without twisting the wire or string holding the beads arranged.

A first half of the collet has a threaded protrusion adapted to engage within a threaded axial cavity of the second half of the collet. Engagement is accomplished by twisting one or both halves of the collet to thread the first half into an engagement coaxial to the second half of the collet.

An axial recess, formed within the first half of the collet communicates with an aperture on a rear wall of the first half of the collet. The axial recess is adapted in size to rotatably accommodate a crimp bead that is compressibly engaged on one distal end of the string or wire. Once the crimp bead is compressed on the distal end of the string, the string is pulled from the exterior side of the rear wall, which pulls the crimp bead into its rotatable engagement with the recess. Because the aperture in the rear wall is only slightly larger than the diameter of the string or wire, and the crimp bead exceeds this diameter, the crimp bead holds the string or wire from disengaging from the aperture.

Since the string or wire can rotate in the aperture, and the crimp bead is rotatable in the recess, for a rotatable engagement of the string at its first end in its engagement with the first half of the collet is provided. This prevents crimping and uneven hang of the necklace which can occur if twisting of the string occurs, especially during engagement of the first half of the collet to the second half, since the collet itself must be rotated.

The second half of the collet, or the end cap, has a loop formed on the sidewall opposite the engagement end to the first half of the collet. This loop provides an easy means to engage a jump ring that is attached to the other end of the string or wire of the necklace.

As such, crimping and mis-formation of the hang of the necklace from twisting of the string or wire is prevented by the rotational engagement of the string with the crimp bead affixed in its rotational engagement inside the first half of the collet.

With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The necklace clasp or endcap herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present necklace end cap or clasp. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is an object of this invention to provide a clasp for a necklace which will accommodate any twist of the string or wire communicating through all the beads to thereby prevent unsightly hanging of the necklace from twisted wire or string supports.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide such a necklace clasp or end cap that is ornamentally attractive and eliminates the unsightly tie-backs and swags and knots currently employed for such devices.

These together with other objects and advantages which become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device as it would be engaged at the end of a string or wire used to string a plurality of pearls or beads or other types of strung jewelry.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the two components of the device as they would be engaged at the terminating ends of a jewelry string and showing the normally recessed crimped string prior to insertion into the male collet.

FIG. 3 depicts an end view of the collet of the first component showing the rotational engagement of the string in an axial cavity showing the crimp bead circumference rotationally engageable against the sidewall defining the axial cavity or passage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As noted, the disclosed device 10 and method provides a novel and unique method and apparatus for terminating the ends of strung jewelry such as pearls or beads. The device 10 features a two-piece engageable clasp formed of a collet 12 and engageable endcap 14 which is axially adapted for a threaded connection with the threaded projection 13 of the collet 12 through the provision of a threaded axial cavity 16 in the endcap 14.

The device 10 significantly improves the aesthetics of all such strung jewelry by eliminating the unsightly loops and knots in the string 18 or wire which are currently employed for termination of the ends of strung jewelry. The device 10 also saves a great deal for the user by eliminating the tedious job of forming loops and then having to swag or tie knots to hold the loops in place on the collet 12. Further, the device 10 eliminates the need for subsequent engagement of clasps to the loops that were tied or formed.

In use, once the beaded or pearl or similar jewelry is strung by the string 18 or wire communicating through each bead, a small portion of the string 18 or wire used for the stringing is extended through an aperture 20 in the rear wall 22 of the collet 12 and fed through an axial passage 24. A swag or crimp bead 26 is then engaged to the string 18. The crimp bead 26 has a generally circular exterior surface that is sized to rotate within the axial passage 24 and also has a diameter larger than the aperture 20 in the rear wall 22 to thereby prevent dismounting of the collet 12 from the string 18 while still allowing the collet 12 to rotate on the crimp bead 26 and to maintain the string 18 stationary. This rotational engagement of the collet 12 and string 18 provides a means to prevent rotating over twisting of the string 18 when engaging the collet 12 to the endcap 14 which is a vexing problem. Conventionally clasps and the like, make no accommodation for the twisting of the string 18 which always occurs in a threaded engagement of the clasp to hook the necklace around the neck. This can break the string, and will almost always deform the string of jewelry when it hangs on the person. Such a non rotational engagement also makes it hard to twist the collet 12 to engage it to the endcap 14.

During manufacture of the jewelry, the endcap 14 which has a loop 22 on its endwall opposite the side of the threaded engagement, provides an easy mount for a jump ring 25 which would be welded to a wire or which can be tied or otherwise engaged to a string 18 at a terminating end. Thus, the other end of the string 18 or wire is easily engaged to the endcap 14.

Once both the collet 12 and the endcap 14 are engaged to respective terminating ends of the string 18 or wire of the necklace so strung, the necklace is ready for use by a wearer. Engagement of both terminating ends of the string 18 or wire to the other, is easily accomplished by rotation of the rotationally engaged collet 12 into its axial rotational on the string 18 to thereby accomplish the threaded engagement to the endcap 14. Reverse rotation disengages the two parts and all without twisting and deforming the string 18 or wire as is the case with conventional end clasps for beaded or other stringed necklace.

While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the improved combination string jewelry termination and engagement device, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instance, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should be understood that such substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations are included within the scope of the invention as defined herein. 

1. A clasp for stringed jewelry having a flexible member engaged through passages formed in jewelry components such as beads or pearls, said clasp comprising: a first component, said first component having a body, said body having a center axis running therethrough; said body having a sidewall extending around said center axis at a distance therefrom, said sidewall defining an exterior surface communicating between a first end and a second end of said body; a threaded portion formed in said exterior surface adjacent to said first end; said body having an axial cavity defined by a sidewall, said axial cavity communicating with an aperture at said first end and with an opening communicating through an endwall at said second end of said body; said axial cavity having a cavity diameter adjacent to said endwall defined by said sidewall; said opening having an opening diameter sized to allow a first end of said flexible member to communicate therethrough into said axial cavity; means for rotational engagement of said first end of said flexible member within said axial cavity; a second component having a threaded interior passage communicating with an opening at a first end of said second component; said interior passage being engageable with said threaded portion of said first component by a rotation of said first component; means for engagement of a second end of said second component, opposite said first end of said second component, with a second end of said flexible member; and whereby said first component is rotatable upon said flexible member to engage said threaded portion with said interior passage without concurrently twisting said flexible member.
 2. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 1 wherein said means for rotational engagement of said first end of said flexible member within said axial cavity, comprises: a ring, said ring being compressible to a compressed engagement upon said first end of said flexible member; said ring having an exterior circumference, said exterior circumference of said ring in said compressed engagement being smaller than said cavity diameter but larger than said opening diameter; and said ring in said compressed state upon said flexible member within said axial cavity providing means for rotational engagement of said first component upon said flexible member.
 3. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 1 additionally comprising: said endwall having an edge portion extending from said center axis further than said sidewall thereby forming a shoulder portion at said second end; said shoulder portion having an exterior surface for engagement of a user's fingers to impart a rotation to said first component; and said shoulder portion having a side surface facing said threaded portion, said side surface providing means for frictional engagement against said second component, said frictional engagement providing means to maintain said threaded portion within said interior passage.
 4. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 2 additionally comprising: said endwall having an edge portion extending from said center axis further than said sidewall thereby forming a shoulder portion at said second end; said shoulder portion having an exterior surface for engagement of a user's fingers to impart a rotation to said first component; and said shoulder portion having a side surface facing said threaded portion, said side surface providing means for frictional engagement against said second component, said frictional engagement providing means to maintain said threaded portion within said interior passage.
 5. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 1 wherein said means for engagement of a second end of said second component with a second end of said flexible member comprises: a ring member extending away from said second end of said second component having an aperture formed therein; and means to secure said second end of said flexible ember to said ring member.
 6. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 2 wherein said means for engagement of a second end of said second component with a second end of said flexible member comprises: a ring member extending away from said second end of said second component having an aperture formed therein; and means to secure said second end of said flexible ember to said ring member.
 7. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 3 wherein said means for engagement of a second end of said second component with a second end of said flexible member comprises: a ring member extending away from said second end of said second component having an aperture formed therein; and means to secure said second end of said flexible ember to said ring member.
 8. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 4 wherein said means for engagement of a second end of said second component with a second end of said flexible member comprises: a ring member extending away from said second end of said second component having an aperture formed therein; and means to secure said second end of said flexible ember to said ring member.
 9. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 5 wherein said means for engagement of a second end of said second component with a second end of said flexible member comprises: a ring member extending away from said second end of said second component having an aperture formed therein; and means to secure said second end of said flexible ember to said ring member.
 10. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 5 wherein said means to secure said second end of said flexible ember to said ring member comprises: a jump ring engaged to said second end of said flexible member; said jump ring having an opening adapted to fit over said ring member; and said jump ring having translating closure member biased to a closed position and filling said opening in said jump ring whereby said jump ring opening may be inserted over said ring member with said closure member held open and secured in engagement with said jump ring by releasing said closure member.
 11. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 6 wherein said means to secure said second end of said flexible ember to said ring member comprises: a jump ring engaged to said second end of said flexible member; said jump ring having an opening adapted to fit over said ring member; and said jump ring having translating closure member biased to a closed position and filling said opening in said jump ring whereby said jump ring opening may be inserted over said ring member with said closure member held open and secured in engagement with said jump ring by releasing said closure member.
 12. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 7 wherein said means to secure said second end of said flexible ember to said ring member comprises: a jump ring engaged to said second end of said flexible member; said jump ring having an opening adapted to fit over said ring member; and said jump ring having translating closure member biased to a closed position and filling said opening in said jump ring whereby said jump ring opening may be inserted over said ring member with said closure member held open and secured in engagement with said jump ring by releasing said closure member.
 13. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 8 wherein said means to secure said second end of said flexible ember to said ring member comprises: a jump ring engaged to said second end of said flexible member; said jump ring having an opening adapted to fit over said ring member; and said jump ring having translating closure member biased to a closed position and filling said opening in said jump ring whereby said jump ring opening may be inserted over said ring member with said closure member held open and secured in engagement with said jump ring by releasing said closure member.
 14. The clasp for stringed jewelry of claim 9 wherein said means to secure said second end of said flexible ember to said ring member comprises: a jump ring engaged to said second end of said flexible member; said jump ring having an opening adapted to fit over said ring member; and said jump ring having translating closure member biased to a closed position and filling said opening in said jump ring whereby said jump ring opening may be inserted over said ring member with said closure member held open and secured in engagement with said jump ring by releasing said closure member. 